Jean and Lil

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

A few days after Scott drags Lil through the ringer in the DR, Jean hunts her down to talk.
Backdated to the 25th.



Jean was wandering the mansion with a purpose in mind, although you couldn't tell it from the way she moved. There was a lack of purposefulness to her walk, and she wasn't peering into doorways and moving on when she didn't find her target. She hadn't even reached out to mentally locate Lil, because Jean rather got the feeling the blonde would not much appreciate being hunted down, even if Jean's motive entirely lacked malice. And, while the mansion was enormous, there were only so many places the other woman could be, so Jean simply wandered, knowing she'd run into her sooner or later.

Sooner it turned out to be, as Jean headed into the kitchen and caught sight of her target out on the smokers porch through the open window. Heading towards the sink to pull down a plate and glass from the cupboard she called out the window, "Afternoon, Lil. I was about to make a sandwich. Want anything while I'm down here? I think there's fresh lemonade..."

The blonde woman startled when she heard her name being called, causing her choke slightly mid-inhale. With a frown and a series of coughs to clear her lungs, Lil turned toward the window only to spy Jean in the kitchen. At least the other woman hadn't stepped outside; accidentally punching out a second field commander's wife would not look good on her record. "Um. Sure?" She coughed again and snuffed out the cigarette before heading off the porch and back inside to see what - if anything - Jean wanted.

"Sorry about startling you," Jean said as Lil stepped back inside. "Preference for sandwich type?" she asked as she collected a second plate and glass.

"Whatever you're having. I'm not picky," Lil replied while she made herself useful by making her way to the fridge to retrieve the lemonade. The giantess would eat anything that was actually edible so she wasn't worried about what the other woman may put together. "You need anything else outta here?"

"I will, but not sure what yet," Jean said, moving to join Lil at the fridge, pausing to set the glasses on the table. Peering into the fridge the red-head started pulling out ingredients, although once her arms got full she simply floated the last few over to the counter. "So, how's things by you? We haven't had much chance to talk since you came to the mansion."

The blonde woman gave a one-shouldered shrug then leaned back against the counter. "They're fine. Working out during the day, working at Harry's at night." Her personal life could be better after calling things quit with Bishop and sending an email to Madison but Lil didn't really want to focus on those things again. "How are you?"

"Busy, but that's standard around here. Slightly aggrieved with my husband, but it's not terribly fair of me, so I'm trying to rein it in." Jean's hands worked steadily, constructing a pair of sandwiches, layering condiments and lettuce, cheese and turkey, but part of her attention was definitely on Lil.

Well, that was interesting. Lil quirked a brow at Jean, adding her own small frown as she watched the other woman cautiously. "Something wrong with you and Scott?" Not that she was the best personal to dispense martial advice but being 'aggrieved' with a husband was something the Canadian could sympathize with.

"Not on an epic level," Jean said, shrugging slightly. "I was watching the tapes of your last DR run and I managed not to go find him and hit him, but it was kind of close."

Blinking, Lil's frown deepened. "I'm sorry, what? You wanted to hit him cause of the session?" She had to be hearing her wrong. Or something was going over her head again which was the more likely situation.

"Mmm, yes, which is why it's a deeply unfair impulse to be mad at him. I mean, he was right, and from time to time he really does have to be a jack-ass for training purposes. But... still. Right now kids are a bit of a hot spot with me. Watching him needle you about them, even if it was a point which needed making..." Jean scowled darkly, and there was a hint of her remaining anger flashing in her eyes.

She didn't know if she should be surprised or grateful after Jean's admission but settled for both. "It's okay," Lil replied, lamely with another shrug of her shoulder. "Like you said, it had to be done. I don't like thinking of kids in situations like that and I haven't really had a lotta field time so..." She let her voice trail off for a moment as she studied the redhead's face. "Something happen with kids lately that's setting you off over this?"

"Yes, although not to me. At least, not most recently. One of the 'joys' of telepathy is sharing other people's traumas." Jean sighed, then shook her head as she finished the sandwiches and handed one to Lil. "The Taygetos file, whenever you do get to it, is likely to make you very, very angry. I warn you now. Someone has been genetically manipulating embryos to insure mutation and then raising the children to be soldiers from birth, with some deep, deep telepathic 'conditioning'. Brainwashing."

Taking the sandwich from Jean with a small nod of thanks, Lil bit into it while collecting her thoughts. She'd forgotten Scott's wife was a telepath which lead to the blonde mentally kicking herself. "I uh, only skimmed that file so far. Couldn't get myself to read it yet." And it would probably be a few more weeks now until she did, thanks to the DR run.

"Understandable," Jean said, sighing. "It's not really a lot of fun." Jean took her own sandwich and settled down at the table, crossing her legs and leaning back in the chair. "So. Other than my husband being an ass with cause, how've you been settling in?"

"Alright, I guess." Another bite of the sandwich and Lil gave Jean a half smile while joining her at the table. "Helps that there are some familiar faces around. Been too long since I gotta spar with Logan or annoy Gar. Just like old times." Not just, but close enough to help her find her footing relatively quickly.

The red-head laughed at that. "Well, it is always good to fall in with old friends, I agree, and those are two hobbies I can quite happily support. And you've been helping Cammie, yes? At this rate you'll fall into a teaching position within the year..."

"Cammie, yeah and supposed to be starting with Yvette and maybe Inez, too, soon. Just as a supplement kinda thing to help them practice techniques and shi- stuff they can't on other students in class." She didn't mind helping the girls but the thought of teaching did make her nose wrinkle. "I think I'll pass on the classroom assignment. Not a fan of school. Hell, I'm lucky I ever got accepted to University even if I only lasted a semester."

"Well, I appreciate your helping out with the girls, at the very least. And I won't mention how often various members of the teaching staff have sworn they'd never teach." Jean grinned."Truthfully, you're probably fairly safe - since most of the kids take a few classes in Salem Center now we don't need as many full time teachers up here as we used to."

Lil chuckled and shook her head. "Perfectly fine with me," she said before taking a bite. "They'd be better off teaching themselves if I ever got dragged behind a desk." Self-defense wouldn't be bad though. Of course, she'd need to brush up with Logan before she... The blonde woman gave herself a mental shake then kick for even starting to ponder that train of thought.

"Well then," Jean said, lifting her drink and toasting Lil with the lemonade, "here's to you, and to being able to stay out from behind a desk. I shall endeavor not to suggest to Charles that you would be good at teaching, simply for the entertainment value."

"I'd appreciate it. 'Course I'm not sure half the men down at Harry's are any better the kids," she tried to joke, lifting her own glass then taking a sip. "Though you wanna use me for entertainment, I'm sure Logan or Gar have a few good stories they'd just love to share with anyone who'd listen."

"Ah, well, the men at Harry's are an entertainment all their own, I must admit. And having fresh meat must make them so happy - most of them have learned to steer clear of the girls from up here. Most."

"Still the new girl," she reminded the redhead. "Or well, one of them. Not many of them are stupid enough to mess with a six-foot, four-inch blonde woman but there are a few who get a little... handsy when they've knocked back a few." Not that she minded. Lil could take care of herself.

"Yes, there's always a couple," Jean agreed. "Given how thoroughly stupid it is, you'd think the trait would have bred itself out of the species, but apparently not. From time to time when I'm down there with Scott there will be some particularly Neanderthalic who decides that if he can beat up Scott I'll be won over by his great machismo, or something. They're always so surprised when Scott hands their asses to them, too..."

Lil's smile faded into something a little softer, more wistful as her thoughts shifted to Madison and the times he played the knight in shining armor at various dives and holes. Usually when she was finished making a fool of herself during some drunken antic or another. "Yeah, well, men'll be men. Harry's isn't bad at all, really. Not compared to the other places I've served and bounced in, really. As long as girls go home drunk with those meatheads though, the trait ain't gonna die out."

"Alas, I suspect you're right," Jean said with a sigh. "And, as you say, Harry's isn't so bad; the locals like him too much to give him a lot of grief, just like we do. Plus, for the most part, the... less savory members of the Salem Center Concerned Citizen's Brigade learned years ago to just stay away, since they couldn't talk Harry into showing Xavier's staff the door."

She nodded in agreement. Lil'd heard stories after all, of things that had happened at the bar before she'd started working there. A long sip of lemonade followed a large bite of the sandwich and the blonde woman found herself without anything to add to the conversation. Not the most accomplished conversationalist, she tried to find another topic. "So, um, how long have you and Scott been married?"

"That's actually a much harder question than it really ought to be," Jean said, munching on her sandwich thoughtfully as she counted months. "Well, it's a little over three years, if we don't count the non-continuous six months I spent crazy and/or in Tibet."

"I've got just over three if you count the almost five months I've been outta the house," Lil admited, dropping her eyes to the table as she fiddled with the glass. "'Crazy and/or in Tibet' makes about as good as a story if not better than 'robot's eaten my husband's brain.'"

"Hmmm," Jean said. "You know, the my-spousal-unit-done-me-wrong group may be the most exclusive 'club' Xavier's has. Certainly smaller than the 'arrived in a coma' group, and way smaller than the 'I was evil/possessed but I got over it' group." There wasn't nearly as much humor in her voice as Jean's words would seem to imply, and it was definitely sympathy in her gaze as she watched Lil.

The blonde's gaze flicked back up to regard Jean briefly before she offered another one-shouldered shrug and went back to staring at her glass. "Always something, ain't it?" Lil asked with her own very dry chuckle. She'd gladly give up her membership but was doubtful it would happen anytime soon. "Dunno if I'm in a hurry to join any more clubs at the moment though."

Jean's little smile was wry. "Understandable," she said. "And, honestly, given the nature of most of the Xavier's 'clubs', I can't say I recommend any of them. The membership benefits are never that good."

"So I've heard." The last of her sandwich disappeared, followed by the remainder of the lemonade. It was rare that she was able to speak to someone who actually understood the problems that came with marrying another mutant in the 'people saving' business but that fact the Jean was basically Heather Hudson with mind powers and a dye job kept her holding back. Pushing her seat back, Lil stood, gathering her plate and glass before jerking her head toward the sink. "You finished?"

Jean finished off her sandwich as well, then nodded, handing over the dishes. "Yes, thank you. And thank you for keeping me company while I ate - it was good to finally get a chance to talk to you."

A little nod had the taller woman's ponytail dancing as she stacked the plates then carried them over for washing. "No problem and yeah, good to talk to you, too." What little conversation it had been. Lil was still uncomfortable with the idea of actually sharing anything beyond small talk with Scott's wife - less for the fact she was a telepath and more because she was Scott's wife. "Thanks for the sandwich. It was good."

Jean stood up with a little smile. "And I should probably get back down to the medlab. Have a good one, Lil."

"You too, Jean," she said with her one little grin over her shoulder as she started to scrub, needing something to do with her hands; something to hold her attention so she didn't fidget anymore than she already had. "I'll, um, see you around."